SPECIFICATION FOR GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

FOR CARBON, FERRITIC ALLOY, AND AUSTENITIC

ALLOY STEEL TUBES
SA-450 /SA-450M

(Identical with ASTM Specification A 450 /A 450M-96.)

1. Scope ASTM
Title of Specification DesignationA
1.1 This specification covers a group of requirements Electric-Resistance-Welded Ferritic Alloy- A 250/A 250M
which, with the exceptions of 4.3 and Sections 5, 6, 17, Steel Boiler and Superheater Tubes
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, are mandatory requirements to Seamless and Welded Ferritic and Marten- A 268/A 268M
the following ASTM tubular product specifications: sitic Stainless Steel Tubing for General
Service
Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless A 269
Steel Tubing for General Service
ASTM
Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless A 270
Title of Specification DesignationA
Steel Sanitary Tubing
Seamless Low-Carbon and Carbon-Molyb- A 161 Seamless Austenitic Chromium-Nickel A 271
denum Steel Still Tubes for Refinery Steel Still Tubes for Refinery Service
Service Seamless and Welded Carbon and Alloy- A 334/A 334M
Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon Steel A 178/A 178M Steel Tubes for Low-Temperature
and Carbon-Manganese Steel Boiler Service
Tubes
Seamless and Electric-Welded Low-Alloy A 423/A 423M
Seamless Cold-Drawn Low-Carbon Steel A 179/A 179M
Steel Tubes
Heat-Exchanger and Condenser Tubes
Electric-Resistance-Welded Coiled Steel A 539
Seamless Carbon Steel Boiler Tubes for A 192/A 192M
Tubing for Gas and Fuel Oil Lines
High-Pressure Service
Seamless Cold-Drawn Carbon Steel Feed- A 556/A 556M
Seamless Cold-Drawn Intermediate Alloy- A 199/A 199M
water Heater Tubes
Steel Heat-Exchanger and Condenser
Tubes Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon Steel A 557/A 557M
Seamless Intermediate Alloy-Steel Still A 200 Feedwater Heater Tubes
Tubes for Refinery Service Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Feedwa- A 688/A 688M
Seamless Carbon-Molybdenum Alloy-Steel A 209/A 209M ter Heater Tubes
Boiler and Superheater Tubes Seamless Medium-Strength Carbon-Molyb- A 692
Seamless Medium-Carbon Steel Boiler and A 210/A 210M denum Alloy-Steel Boiler and Super-
Superheater Tubes heater Tubes
Seamless Ferritic and Austenitic Alloy- A 213/A 213M Austenitic Stainless Steel Tubing for A 771
Steel Boiler, Superheater, and Heat-Ex- Breeder Reactor Core Components
changer Tubes Seamless and Welded Ferritic/Austenitic A 789/A 789M
Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon Steel A 214/A 214M Stainless Steel Tubing for General
Heat-Exchanger and Condenser Tubes Service
Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon Steel A 226/A 226M Welded Unannealed Ferritic Stainless Steel A 791/A 791M
Boiler and Superheater Tubes for High- Tubing
Pressure Service Welded Ferritic Stainless Steel Feedwater A 803/A 803M
Welded Austenitic Steel Boiler, Super- A 249/A 249M Heater Tubes
heater, Heat-Exchanger, and Condenser Seamless, Cold-Drawn Carbon Steel Tub- A 822
Tubes ing for Hydraulic System Service

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 PART A — FERROUS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS
ASTM
Title of Specification DesignationA
Austenitic and Ferritic Stainless Steel Duct A 826
Tubes for Breeder Reactor Core Compo-
nents
High-Frequency Induction-Welded, Unan- A 851
nealed Austenitic Steel Condenser Tubes
A
These designations refer to the latest issue of the respective specifi-
cations.
1.2 One or more of Sections 4.3, 5, 6, 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 22, and 23 apply when the product specification
or purchase order has a requirement for the test or
analysis described by these sections.
1.3 In case of conflict between a requirement of the
product specification and a requirement of this general
requirement specification only the requirement of the
product specification need be satisfied.
1.4 The values stated in either inch-pound units or
SI units are to be regarded separately as standard.
Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The
values stated in each system are not exact equivalents;
therefore, each system must be used independently of
the other. Combining values from the two systems may
result in nonconformance with the specification. The
inch-pound units shall apply unless the “M” designation
(SI) of the product specification is specified in the order.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A 370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Test-
ing of Steel Products
A 530/A 530M Specification for General Requirements
for Specialized Carbon and Alloy Steel Pipe
A 700 Practices for Packaging, Marking, and Loading
Methods for Steel Products for Domestic Shipment
A 751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for
Chemical Analysis of Steel Products
D 3951 Practice for Commercial Packaging
E 92 Test Method for Vickers Hardness of Metallic Mate-
rials
E 213 Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Metal Pipe
and Tubing
E 273 Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Longitudi-
nal Welded Pipe and Tubing
E 309 Practice for Eddy-Current Examination of Steel
Tubular Products Using Magnetic Saturation
E 426 Practice for Electromagnetic (Eddy-Current) Test-
ing of Seamless and Welded Tubular Products, Austen-
itic Stainless Steel and Similar Alloys
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SA-450 /SA-450M
E 570 Practice for Flux Leakage Examination of Ferro-
magnetic Steel Tubular Products
2.2 Federal Standard:
Fed. Std. No. 183 Continuous Identification Marking of
Iron and Steel Products
2.3 Military Standards:
MIL-STD-271 Nondestructive Testing Requirements for
Metals
MIL-STD-792 Identification Marking Requirements for
Special Purpose Equipment
2.4 Steel Structures Painting Council:
SSPC-SP6 Surface Preparation Specification No. 6 Com-
mercial Blast Cleaning
2.5 Other Document:
SNT-TC-1A Recommended Practice for Nondestructive
Personnel Qualification and Certification
3. Process
3.1 The steel may be made by any process.
3.2 If a specific type of melting is required by the
purchaser, it shall be as stated on the purchase order.
3.3 The primary melting may incorporate separate
degassing or refining and may be followed by secondary
melting, such as electroslag remelting or vacuum-arc
remelting. If secondary melting is employed, the heat
shall be defined as all of the ingots remelted from a
single primary heat.
3.4 Steel may be cast in ingots or may be strand
cast. When steel of different grades is sequentially
strand cast, identification of the resultant transition
material is required. The producer shall remove the
transition material by an established procedure that
positively separates the grades.
4. Chemical Composition
4.1 Samples for chemical analysis, and method of
analysis, shall be in accordance with Test Methods,
Practices, and Terminology A 751.
4.2 Heat Analysis—An analysis of each heat of steel
shall be made by the steel manufacturer to determine
the percentages of the elements specified. If secondary
melting processes are employed, the heat analysis shall
be obtained from one remelted ingot or the product of
one remelted ingot of each primary melt. The chemical
composition thus determined, or that determined from
a product analysis made by the tubular product manufac-
 SA-450 /SA-450M 2001 SECTION II
turer, shall conform to the requirements specified in
the product specification.
4.2.1 For stainless steels ordered under product
specifications referencing this specification of general
requirements, the steel shall not contain an unspecified
element, other than nitrogen, for the ordered grade to
the extent that the steel conforms to the requirements
of another grade for which that element is a specified
element having a required minimum content. For this
requirement, a grade is defined as an alloy described
individually and identified by its own UNS designation
in a table of chemical requirements within any specifica-
tion listed within the scope as being covered by this
specification.
4.3 Product Analysis—Product analysis requirements
and options, if any, are contained in the product specifi-
cation.
5. Tensile Properties
5.1 The material shall conform to the requirements
as to tensile properties prescribed in the individual
specification.
5.2 The yield strength corresponding to a permanent
offset of 0.2% of the gage length or to a total extension
of 0.5% of the gage length under load shall be deter-
mined.
5.3 If the percentage of elongation of any test speci-
men is less than that specified and any part of the
fracture is more than 3⁄4 in. [19.0 mm] from the center
of the gage length, as indicated by scribe marks on
the specimen before testing, a retest shall be allowed.
6. Standard Weights
6.1 The calculated weight per foot, based upon a
specified minimum wall thickness, shall be determined
by the following equation:
W p C(D − t)t (1)
where:
C p 10.69 [0.02466/15],
W p weight, lb/ft [kg/m],
D p specified outside diameter, in. [mm], and
t p specified minimum wall thickness, in. [mm].
6.2 The permissible variations from the calculated
weight per foot [kilogram per metre] shall be as pre-
scribed in Table 1.
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7. Permissible Variations in Wall Thickness
7.1 Variations from the specified minimum wall
thickness shall not exceed the amounts prescribed in
Table 2.
7.2 For tubes 2 in. [50.8 mm] and over in outside
diameter and 0.220 in. [5.6 mm] and over in thickness,
the variation in wall thickness in any one cross section
of any one tube shall not exceed the following percent-
age of the actual mean wall at the section. The actual
mean wall is defined as the average of the thickest
and thinnest wall in that section.
Seamless tubes ±10%
Welded tubes ±5%
7.3 When cold-finished tubes as ordered require wall
thicknesses 3⁄4 in. [19.1 mm] or over, or an inside
diameter 60% or less of the outside diameter, the
permissible variations in wall thickness for hot-finished
tubes shall apply.
8. Permissible Variations in Outside Diameter
8.1 Except as provided in 8.2.1 and 8.3, variations
from the specified outside diameter shall not exceed
the amounts prescribed in Table 3.
8.2 Thin-wall tubes usually develop significant ovality
(out of roundness) during final annealing, or straight-
ening, or both. Thin-wall tubes are defined as those
meeting the specified outside diameters and specified
wall thicknesses set forth as follows:
Specified Outside
Diameter Specified Wall Thickness
2 in. [50.8 mm] and 2% or less of specified outside
less diameter
Greater than 2 in. 3% or less of specified outside
[50.8 mm] diameter
All diameters 0.020 in. [0.5 mm] or less
8.2.1 The diameter tolerances of Table 3 are not
sufficient to provide for additional ovality expected in
thin-wall tubes, and, for such tubes, are applicable only
to the mean of the extreme (maximum and minimum)
outside diameter readings in any one cross section.
However, for thin wall tubes the difference in extreme
outside diameter readings (ovality) in any one cross
section shall not exceed the following ovality allow-
ances:
 PART A — FERROUS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS
Outside Diameter Ovality Allowance
1 in. [25.4 mm] and under 0.020 in. [0.5 mm]
Over 1 in. [25.4 mm] 2.0% of specified outside diameter
8.3 For cold-finished seamless austenitic and ferritic/
austenitic tubes an ovality allowance is necessary for
all sizes less than 2 in. [50.8 mm] outside diameter
since they are likely to become out of round during
their final heat treatment. In such tubes, the maximum
and minimum diameters at any cross section shall
deviate from the nominal diameter by no more than
±0.010 in. [±0.25 mm]; however, the mean diameter
at that cross section must still be within the given
permissible variation given in Table 3. In the event of
conflict between the provisions of 8.3 and those of
8.2.1, the larger value of ovality tolerance shall apply.
9. Permissible Variations in Length
9.1 Variations from the specified length shall not
exceed the amounts prescribed in Table 4.
10. Permissible Variations in Height of Flash on
Electric-Resistance-Welded Tubes
10.1 For tubes over 2 in. [50.8 mm] in outside
diameter, or over 0.135 in. [3.44 mm] in wall thickness,
the flash on the inside of the tubes shall be mechanically
removed by cutting to a maximum height of 0.010 in.
[0.25 mm] at any point on the tube.
10.2 For tubes 2 in. [50.8 mm] and under in outside
diameter and 0.135 in. [3.4 mm] and under in wall
thickness, the flash on the inside of the tube shall be
mechanically removed by cutting to a maximum height
of 0.006 in. [0.15 mm] at any point on the tube.
11. Straightness and Finish
11.1 Finished tubes shall be reasonably straight and
have smooth ends free of burrs. They shall have a
workmanlike finish. Surface imperfections (Note 1) may
be removed by grinding, provided that a smooth curved
surface is maintained, and the wall thickness is not
decreased to less than that permitted by this or the
product specification. The outside diameter at the point
of grinding may be reduced by the amount so removed.
NOTE 1—An imperfection is any discontinuity or irregularity found
in the tube.
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SA-450 /SA-450M
12. Repair by Welding
12.1 Repair welding of base metal defects in tubing
is permissible only with the approval of the purchaser
and with the further understanding that the tube shall
be marked “WR” and the composition of the deposited
filler metal shall be suitable for the composition being
welded. Defects shall be thoroughly chipped or ground
out before welding and each repaired length shall be
reheat treated or stress relieved as required by the
applicable specification. Each length of repaired tube
shall be tested hydrostatically as required by the product
specification.
12.2 Repair welding shall be performed using proce-
dures and welders or welding operators that have been
qualified in accordance with ASME Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Code, Section IX.
13. Retests
13.1 If the results of the mechanical tests of any
group or lot do not conform to the requirements specified
in the individual specification, retests may be made on
additional tubes of double the original number from
the same group or lot, each of which shall conform
to the requirements specified.
14. Retreatment
14.1 If the individual tubes or the tubes selected to
represent any group or lot fail to conform to the test
requirements, the individual tubes or the group or lot
represented may be retreated and resubmitted for test.
Not more than two reheat treatments shall be permitted.
15. Test Specimens
15.1 Test specimens shall be taken from the ends
of finished tubes prior to upsetting, swaging, expanding,
or other forming operations, or being cut to length.
They shall be smooth on the ends and free of burrs
and flaws.
15.2 If any test specimen shows flaws or defective
machining, it may be discarded and another specimen
substituted.
 SA-450 /SA-450M 2001 SECTION II
16. Method of Mechanical Testing
16.1 The specimens and mechanical tests required
shall be made in accordance with Annex A2 of Test
Methods and Definitions A 370.
16.2 Specimens shall be tested at room temperature.
16.3 Small or subsize specimens as described in Test
Methods and Definitions A 370 may be used only
when there is insufficient material to prepare one of
the standard specimens. When using small or subsize
specimens, the largest one possible shall be used.
17. Flattening Test
17.1 A section of tube not less than 21⁄2 in. [63
mm] in length for seamless and not less than 4 in.
[100 mm] in length for welded shall be flattened cold
between parallel plates in two steps. For welded tubes,
the weld shall be placed 90° from the direction of the
applied force (at a point of maximum bending). During
the first step, which is a test for ductility, no cracks
or breaks, except as provided for in 17.4, on the inside,
outside, or end surfaces shall occur in seamless tubes,
or on the inside or outside surfaces of welded tubes,
until the distance between the plates is less than the
value of H calculated by the following equation:
(1 + e)t
Hp (2)
e + t/D
where:
H p distance between flattening plates, in. [mm],
t p specified wall thickness of the tube, in. [mm],
D p specified outside diameter of the tube, in. [mm],
and
e p deformation per unit length (constant for a given
grade of steel: 0.07 for medium-carbon steel
(maximum specified carbon 0.19% or greater),
0.08 for ferritic alloy steel, 0.09 for austenitic
steel, and 0.09 for low-carbon steel (maximum
specified carbon 0.18% or less)).
During the second step, which is a test for soundness,
the flattening shall be continued until the specimen
breaks or the opposite walls of the tube meet. Evidence
of laminated or unsound material, or of incomplete
weld that is revealed during the entire flattening test
shall be cause for rejection.
17.2 Surface imperfections in the test specimens
before flattening, but revealed during the first step of
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the flattening test, shall be judged in accordance with
the finish requirements.
17.3 Superficial ruptures resulting from surface imper-
fections shall not be cause for rejection.
17.4 When low D-to-t ratio tubular products are
tested, because the strain imposed due to geometry is
unreasonably high on the inside surface at the six and
twelve o’clock locations, cracks at these locations shall
not be cause for rejection if the D to t ratio is less
than 10.
18. Reverse Flattening Test
18.1 A section 4 in. [100 mm] in length of finished
welded tubing in sizes down to and including 1⁄2 in. [12.7
mm] in outside diameter shall be split longitudinally 90°
on each side of the weld and the sample opened and
flattened with the weld at the point of maximum
bend. There shall be no evidence of cracks or lack of
penetration or overlaps resulting from flash removal in
the weld.
19. Flaring Test
19.1 A section of tube approximately 4 in. [100
mm] in length shall stand being flared with a tool
having a 60° included angle until the tube at the mouth
of the flare has been expanded to the percentages
specified in Table 5 without cracking or showing imper-
fections rejectable under the provisions of the product
specification.
20. Flange Test
20.1 A section of tube shall be capable of having
a flange turned over at a right angle to the body of
the tube without cracking or showing imperfections
rejectable under the provisions of the product specifica-
tion. The width of the flange for carbon and alloy
steels shall be not less than the percentages specified
in Table 6. For the austenitic grades, the width of the
flange for all sizes listed in Table 6 shall be not less
than 15%.
21. Hardness Test
21.1 For tubes 0.200 in. [5.1 mm] and over in wall
thickness, either the Brinell or Rockwell hardness test
shall be used. When Brinell hardness testing is used,
a 10 mm ball with 3000, 1500, or 500 kg load, or a
 PART A — FERROUS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS
5 mm ball with 750 kg load may be used, at the
option of the manufacturer.
21.2 For tubes less than 0.200 in. [5.1 mm] to and
including 0.065 in. [1.7 mm] in wall thickness, the
Rockwell hardness test shall be used.
21.3 For tubes less than 0.065 in. [1.7 mm] in wall
thickness, the hardness test shall not be required.
21.4 The Brinell hardness test may be made on the
outside of the tube near the end, on the outside of a
specimen cut from the tube, or on the wall cross section
of a specimen cut from the tube at the option of the
manufacturer. This test shall be made so that the
distance from the center of the impression to the edge
of the specimen is at least 2.5 times the diameter of
the impression.
21.5 The Rockwell hardness test may be made on
the inside surface, on the wall cross section, or on
a flat on the outside surface at the option of the
manufacturer.
21.6 For tubes furnished with upset, swaged, or
otherwise formed ends, the hardness test shall be made
as prescribed in 21.1 and 21.2 on the outside of the
tube near the end after the forming operation and heat
treatment.
21.7 For welded or brazed tubes, the hardness test
shall be made away from the joints.
21.8 When the product specification provides for
Vickers hardness, such testing shall be in accordance
with Test Method E 92.
22. Hydrostatic Test
22.1 Except as provided in 22.2 and 22.3, each tube
shall be tested by the manufacturer to a minimum
hydrostatic test pressure determined by the following
equation:
Inch-Pound Units: P p 32000 t/D (3)
SI Units: P p 220.6 t/D
where:
P p hydrostatic test pressure, psi or MPa,
t p specified wall thickness, in. or mm, and
D p specified outside diameter, in. or mm.
22.1.1 The hydrostatic test pressure determined by
Eq. (3) shall be rounded to the nearest 50 psi [0.5
MPa] for pressure below 1000 psi [7 MPa], and to
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SA-450 /SA-450M
the nearest 100 psi [1 MPa] for pressures 1000 psi [7
MPa] and above. The hydrostatic test may be performed
prior to cutting to final length, or prior to upsetting,
swaging, expanding, bending, or other forming opera-
tions, or both.
22.2 Regardless of the determination made by Eq.
(3), the minimum hydrostatic test pressure required to
satisfy these requirements need not exceed the values
given in Table 7. This does not prohibit testing at
higher pressures at manufacturer’s option or as provided
in 22.3.
22.3 With concurrence of the manufacturer, a mini-
mum hydrostatic test pressure in excess of the require-
ments of 22.2 or 22.1, or both, may be stated on the
order. The tube wall stress shall be determined by the
following equation:
S p PD/2t (4)
where:
S p tube wall stress, psi or MPa, and all other sym-
bols as defined in 22.1.
22.4 The test pressure shall be held for a minimum
of 5 s.
22.5 If any tube shows leaks during the hydrostatic
test, it shall be rejected.
22.6 The hydrostatic test may not be capable of
testing the end portion of the pipe. The lengths of
pipe that cannot be tested shall be determined by the
manufacturer and, when specified in the purchase order,
reported to the purchaser.
23. Air Underwater Pressure Test
23.1 When this test is employed, each tube, with
internal surface clean and dry, shall be internally pressur-
ized to 150 psi [1000 kPa] minimum with clean and
dry compressed air while being submerged in clear
water. The tube shall be well-lighted, preferably by
underwater illumination. Any evidence of air leakage
of the pneumatic couplings shall be corrected prior to
testing. Inspection shall be made of the entire external
surface of the tube after holding the pressure for not
less than 5 s after the surface of the water has become
calm. If any tube shows leakage during the air under-
water test, it shall be rejected. Any leaking areas may
be cut out and the tube retested.
 SA-450 /SA-450M 2001 SECTION II
24. Nondestructive Electric Test
24.1 When nondestructive examination is specified
by the purchaser or the product specification, each tube
shall be examined by a nondestructive examination
method in accordance with Practice E 213, Practice E
309 (for ferromagnetic materials), Practice E 426 (for
non-magnetic materials), or Practice E 570. Upon
agreement, Practice E 273 shall be employed in addition
to one of the full periphery tests. The range of tube
sizes that may be examined by each method shall be
subject to the limitations in the scope of that practice.
In case of conflict between these methods and practices
and this specification, the requirements of this specifica-
tion shall prevail.
24.2 The following information is for the benefit of
the user of this specification:
24.2.1 Calibration standards for the nondestructive
electric test are convenient standards for calibration
of nondestructive testing equipment only. For several
reasons, including shape, orientation, width, etc., the
correlation between the signal produced in the electric
test from an imperfection and from calibration standards
is only approximate. A purchaser interested in ascertain-
ing the nature (type, size, location, and orientation) of
discontinuities that can be detected in the specific
application of these examinations should discuss this
with the manufacturer of the tubular product.
24.2.2 The ultrasonic examination referred to in
this specification is intended to detect longitudinal
discontinuities having a reflective area similar to or
larger than the calibration reference notches specified in
23.4. The examination may not detect circumferentially
oriented imperfections or short, deep defects.
24.2.3 The eddy current examination referenced
in this specification has the capability of detecting
significant discontinuities, especially of the short abrupt
type. Practices E 309 and E 426 contain additional
information regarding the capabilities and limitations
of eddy-current examination.
24.2.4 The flux leakage examination referred to
in this specification is capable of detecting the presence
and location of significant longitudinally or transversely
oriented discontinuities. The provisions of this specifi-
cation only provide for longitudinal calibration for flux
leakage. It should be recognized that different techniques
should be employed to detect differently oriented imper-
fections.
24.2.5 The hydrostatic test referred to in Section
22 is a test method provided for in many product
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specifications. This test has the capability of finding
defects of a size permitting the test fluid to leak through
the tube wall and may be either visually seen or
detected by a loss of pressure. This test may not
detect very tight, through-the-wall defects or defects
that extend an appreciable distance into the wall without
complete penetration.
24.2.6 A purchaser interested in ascertaining the
nature (type, size, location, and orientation) of disconti-
nuities that can be detected in the specific application
of these examinations should discuss this with the
manufacturer of the tubular products.
24.3 Time of Examination — Nondestructive exami-
nation for specification acceptance shall be performed
after all deformation processing, heat treating, welding,
and straightening operations. This requirement does
not preclude additional testing at earlier stages in the
processing.
24.4 Surface Condition:
24.4.1 All surfaces shall be free of scale, dirt,
grease, paint, or other foreign material that could inter-
fere with interpretation of test results. The methods
used for cleaning and preparing the surfaces for exami-
nation shall not be detrimental to the base metal or
the surface finish.
24.4.2 Excessive surface roughness or deep
scratches can produce signals that interfere with the test.
24.5 Extent of Examination:
24.5.1 The relative motion of the tube and the
transducer(s), coil(s), or sensor(s) shall be such that
the entire tube surface is scanned, except for end effects
as noted in 24.5.2.
24.5.2 The existence of end effects is recognized,
and the extent of such effects shall be determined by
the manufacturer, and, if requested, shall be reported
to the purchaser. Other nondestructive tests may be
applied to the end areas, subject to agreement between
the purchaser and the manufacturer.
24.6 Operator Qualifications:
24.6.1 The test unit operator shall be certified
in accordance with SNT TC-1-A, or an equivalent
documented standard agreeable to both purchaser and
manufacturer.
24.7 Test Conditions:
24.7.1 For examination by the ultrasonic method,
the minimum nominal transducer frequency shall be
 PART A — FERROUS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS
2.0 MHz, and the maximum transducer size shall be
1.5 in. (38 mm).
24.7.2 For eddy current testing, the excitation
coil frequency shall be chosen to ensure adequate
penetration, yet provide good signal-to-noise ratio.
24.7.2.1 The maximum coil frequency shall be:
Specified Wall Thickness Maximum Frequency
<0.050 in. 100 KHz
0.050 to 0.150 50
>0.150 10
24.8 References Standards:
24.8.1 Reference standards of convenient length
shall be prepared from a length of tube of the same
grade, specified size (outside diameter and wall thick-
ness), surface finish and heat treatment condition as
the tubing to be examined.
24.8.2 For eddy current testing, the reference
standard shall contain, at the option of the manufacturer,
any one of the following discontinuities:
24.8.2.1 Drilled Hole — The reference standard
shall contain three or more holes, equally spaced circum-
ferentially around the tube and longitudinally separated
by a sufficient distance to allow distinct identification
of the signal from each hole. The holes shall be drilled
radially and completely through the tube wall, with
care being taken to avoid distortion of the tube while
drilling. The holes shall not be larger than 0.031 in.
(0.8 mm) in diameter. As an alternative, the producer
may choose to drill one hole and run the calibration
standard through the test coil three times, rotating the
tube approximately 120° each time. More passes with
smaller angular increments may be used, provided
testing of the full 360° of the coil is obtained. For
welded tubing, if the weld is visible, one of the multiple
holes or the single hole shall be drilled in the weld.
24.8.2.2 Transverse Tangential Notch — Using
a round tool or file with a 1⁄4 in. [6.4 mm] diameter,
a notch shall be milled or filed tangential to the surface
and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Said
notch shall have a depth not exceeding 121⁄2% of the
specified wall thickness of the tube or 0.004 in. [0.1
mm], whichever is greater.
24.8.2.3 Longitudinal Notch — A notch 0.031
in. [0.8 mm] or less in width shall be machined in a
radial plane parallel to the tube axis on the outside
surface of the tube, to have a depth not exceeding
121⁄2% of the specified wall thickness of the tube or
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0.004 in. [0.1 mm], whichever is greater. The length
of the notch shall be compatible with the testing method.
24.8.3 For ultrasonic testing, the reference ID and
OD notches shall be any one of the three common
notch shapes shown in Practice E 213, at the option
of the manufacturer. The depth of notches shall not
exceed 121⁄2% of the specified wall thickness of the
tube or 0.004 in. [0.1 mm], whichever is greater. The
width of the notch shall not exceed two times the
depth. For welded tubing, the notch shall be placed in
the weld, if the weld is visible.
24.8.4 For flux leakage testing, the longitudinal
reference notches shall be straight-sided notches ma-
chined in a radial plane parallel to the tube axis on
the inside and outside surfaces of the tube. Notch depth
shall not exceed 121⁄2% of the specified wall thickness,
or 0.004 in. [0.1 mm], whichever is greater. Notch
length shall not exceed 1 in. [25 mm], and the width
shall not exceed the depth. Outside diameter and inside
diameter notches shall have sufficient separation to
allow distinct identification of the signal from each
notch.
24.8.5 More or smaller reference discontinuities,
or both, may be used by agreement between the pur-
chaser and the manufacturer.
24.9 Standardization Procedure:
24.9.1 The test apparatus shall be standardized at
the beginning and end of each series of tubes of the
same specified size (diameter and wall thickness), grade
and heat treatment condition, and at intervals not ex-
ceeding 4 h during the examination of such tubing.
More frequent standardizations may be performed at
the manufacturer’s option or may be required upon
agreement between the purchaser and the manufacturer.
24.9.2 The test apparatus shall also be standardized
after any change in test system settings, change of
operator, equipment repair, or interruption due to power
loss or shutdown.
24.9.3 The reference standard shall be passed
through the test apparatus at the same speed and test
system settings as the tube to be tested, except that,
at the manufacturer’s discretion, the tubes may be tested
at a higher sensitivity.
24.9.4 The signal-to-noise ratio for the reference
standard shall be 2.5:1 or greater, and the reference
signal amplitude for each discontinuity shall be at least
50% of full scale of the display. In establishing the
noise level, extraneous signals from identifiable surface
 SA-450 /SA-450M 2001 SECTION II
imperfections on the reference standard may be ignored.
When reject filtering is used during UT testing, linearity
must be demonstrated.
24.9.5 If, upon any standardization, the reference
signal amplitude has decreased by 29% (3.0 dB), the
test apparatus shall be considered out of standardization.
The test system settings may be changed, or the trans-
ducer(s), coil(s), or sensor(s) adjusted, and the unit
restandardized, but all tubes tested since the last accept-
able standardization must be retested.
24.10 Evaluation of Imperfections:
24.10.1 Tubing producing a test signal to or greater
than the lowest signal produced by the reference stan-
dard shall be designated suspect, shall be clearly marked
or identified, and shall be separated from the acceptable
tubing.
24.10.2 Such suspect tubing shall be subject to
one of the following three dispositions:
24.10.2.1 The tubes may be rejected without
further examination, at the discretion of the manufac-
turer.
24.10.2.2 If the test signal was produced by
imperfections such as scratches, surface roughness,
dings, straightener marks, loose ID bead and cutting
chips, steel die stamps, stop marks, tube reducer ripple,
or chattered flash trim, the tubing may be accepted or
rejected depending on visual observation of the severity
of the imperfection, the type of signal it produces on
the testing equipment used, or both.
24.10.2.3 If the test signal was produced by
imperfections which cannot be identified, or was pro-
duced by cracks or crack-like imperfections, the tubing
shall be rejected.
24.10.3 Any tubes with imperfections of the types
in 24.10.2.2 and 24.10.2.3, exceeding 0.004 in. (0.1 mm)
or 121⁄2% of the specified minimum wall thickness
(whichever is greater) in depth shall be rejected.
24.10.4 Rejected tubes may be reconditioned and
retested providing the wall thickness is not decreased
to less than that required by this or the product specifica-
tion. If grinding is performed, the outside diameter in
the area of grinding may be reduced by the amount
so removed. To be accepted, reconditioned tubes must
pass the nondestructive examination by which they
were originally rejected.
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25. Inspection
25.1 The inspector representing the purchaser shall
have entry at all times while work on the contract of
the purchaser is being performed, to all parts of the
manufacturer’s works that concern the manufacture of
the material ordered. The manufacturer shall afford the
inspector all reasonable facilities to satisfy him that
the material is being furnished in accordance with this
specification. All required tests and inspection shall be
made at the place of manufacture prior to shipment,
unless otherwise specified, and shall be conducted so
as not to interfere unnecessarily with the operation of
the works.
26. Rejection
26.1 Each length of tubing received from the manufac-
turer may be inspected by the purchaser and, if it does
not meet the requirements of the specification based
on the inspection and test method as outlined in the
specification, the length may be rejected and the manu-
facturer shall be notified. Disposition of rejected tubing
shall be a matter of agreement between the manufacturer
and the purchaser.
26.2 Material that fails in any of the forming opera-
tions or in the process of installation and is found to
be defective shall be set aside and the manufacturer
shall be notified for mutual evaluation of the material’s
suitability. Disposition of such material shall be a matter
for agreement.
27. Certified Test Report
27.1 When specified in the purchase order or contract,
the producer or supplier shall furnish a Certified Test
Report certifying that the material was manufactured,
sampled, tested, and inspected in accordance with the
Specification, including year date, the Supplementary
Requirements, and any other requirements designated
in the purchase order or contract, and that the results
met the requirements of that Specification, the Supple-
mentary Requirements, and the other requirements. A
signature or notarization is not required on the Certified
Test Report, but the document shall be dated and shall
clearly identify the organization submitting the Report.
NOTE 2—Notwithstanding the absence of a signature or notarization,
the organization submitting the Report is responsible for the contents
of the Report.
 PART A — FERROUS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS
27.2 In addition, the Certified Test Report shall
include the following information and test results, when
applicable:
27.2.1 Heat Number,
27.2.2 Heat Analysis,
27.2.3 Product Analysis, when specified,
27.2.4 Tensile Properties,
27.2.5 Width of the gage length, when longitudinal
strip tension test specimens are used,
27.2.6 Flattening Test acceptable,
27.2.7 Reverse Flattening Test acceptable,
27.2.8 Flaring Test acceptable,
27.2.9 Flange Test acceptable,
27.2.10 Hardness Test values,
27.2.11 Hydrostatic Test pressure,
27.2.12 Non-destructive Electric Test method,
27.2.13 Impact Test results, and
27.2.14 Other test results or information required
to be reported by the product specification.
27.3 Test results or information required to be re-
ported by supplementary requirements, or other require-
ments designated in the purchase order or contract shall
be reported, but may be reported in a separate document.
27.4 The Certified Test Report shall include a state-
ment of explanation for the letter added to the specifica-
tion number marked on the tubes (see 28.3), when all
of the requirements of the specification have not been
completed. The purchaser must certify that all require-
ments of the specification have been completed before
removal of the letter (that is, X, Y, or Z).
28. Product Marking
28.1 Each length of tube shall be legibly stenciled
with the manufacturer’s name or brand, the specification
number, and grade. The marking need not include the
year date of the specification. For tubes less than 11⁄4
in. [31.8 mm] in diameter and tubes under 3 ft [1 m]
in length, the required information may be marked on
a tag securely attached to the bundle or box in which
the tubes are shipped.
28.2 For austenitic tubes, the marking paint or ink
shall not contain any harmful metal, or metal salts,
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SA-450 /SA-450M
such as zinc, lead, or copper, which cause corrosive
attack on heating.
28.3 When it is specified that certain requirements
of a specification adopted by the ASME Boiler and
Pressure Vessel Committee are to be completed by the
purchaser upon receipt of the material, the manufacturer
shall indicate that all requirements of the specification
have not been completed by a letter such as X, Y, or
Z, immediately following the specification number.
This letter may be removed after completion of all
requirements in accordance with the specification. An
explanation of specification requirements to be com-
pleted is provided in Section 27.
28.4 Bar Coding — In addition to the requirements
in 28.1, 28.2, and 28.3, bar coding is acceptable as a
supplementary identification method. Bar coding should
be consistent with the Automotive Industry Action
Group (AIAG) standard prepared by the Primary Metals
Subcommittee of the AIAG Bar Code Project Team.
29. Packaging, Marking, and Loading
29.1 When specified on the purchase order, packaging,
marking, and loading for shipment shall be in accord-
ance with the procedures of Practices A 700.
30. Government Procurement
30.1 Scale Free Pipe:
30.1.1 When specified in the contract or order,
the following requirements shall be considered in the
inquiry contract or order, for agencies of the U.S.
Government where scale free tube is required. These
requirements shall take precedence if there is a conflict
between these requirements and the product specifi-
cation.
30.1.2 Tube shall be ordered to outside diameter
(OD) and wall thickness.
30.1.3 Responsibility for Inspection — Unless
otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order,
the manufacturer is responsible for the performance of
all inspection and test requirements specified. The ab-
sence of any inspection requirements in the specification
shall not relieve the contractor of the responsibility for
ensuring that all products or supplies submitted to the
Government for acceptance comply with all require-
ments of the contract. Sampling inspection, as part of
the manufacturing operations, is an acceptable practice
to ascertain conformance to requirements, however,
 SA-450 /SA-450M 2001 SECTION II
this does not authorize submission of known defective
material, either indicated or actual, nor does it commit
the Government to accept the material. Except as
otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order,
the manufacturer may use his own or any other suitable
facilities for the performance of the inspection and test
requirements unless disapproved by the purchaser at
the time the order is placed. The purchaser shall have
the right to perform any of the inspections and tests
set forth when such inspections and tests are deemed
necessary to ensure that the material conforms to the
prescribed requirements.
30.1.4 Sampling for Flattening and Flaring Tests
and for Visual and Dimensional Examination — Mini-
mum sampling for flattening and flaring tests and visual
and dimensional examination shall be as follows:
Lot Size (pieces per lot) Sample Size
2 to 8 Entire lot
9 to 90 8
91 to 150 12
151 to 280 19
281 to 500 21
501 to 1200 27
1201 to 3200 35
3201 to 10 000 38
10 001 to 35 000 46
In all cases, the acceptance number is zero and the
rejection number is one. Rejected lots may be screened
and resubmitted for visual and dimensional examination.
All defective items shall be replaced with acceptable
items prior to lot acceptance.
30.1.5 Sampling for Chemical Analysis — One
sample for chemical analysis shall be selected from
each of two tubes chosen from each lot. A lot shall
be all material poured from one heat.
30.1.6 Sampling for Tension and Bend Test —
One sample shall be taken from each lot. A lot shall
consist of all tube of the same outside diameter and
wall thickness manufactured during an 8-h shift from
the same heat of steel, and heat treated under the same
conditions of temperature and time in a single charge
in a batch type furnace, or heat treated under the same
condition in a continuous furnace, and presented for
inspection at the same time.
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30.1.7 Hydrostatic and Ultrasonic Tests — Each
tube shall be tested by the ultrasonic (when specified)
and hydrostatic tests.
30.1.8 Tube shall be free from heavy oxide or
scale. The internal surface of hot finished ferritic steel
tube shall be pickled or blast cleaned to a free of scale
condition equivalent to the CSa2 visual standard listed
in SSPC-SP6. Cleaning shall be performed in accordance
with a written procedure that has been shown to be
effective. This procedure shall be available for audit.
30.1.9 In addition to the marking in Specification
A 530/A 530M, each length of tube 1⁄4 in. outside
diameter and larger shall be marked with the following
listed information. Marking shall be in accordance with
FED-STD-183 and MIL-STD-792. (a) Outside diameter,
wall thickness, and length (b) Heat or lot identification
number.
30.1.10 Tube shall be straight to within the toler-
ances specified in Table 8.
30.1.11 When specified, each tube shall be ultrason-
ically examined in accordance with MIL-STD-271,
except that the notch depth in the calibration standard
shall be 5% of the wall thickness or 0.005 in., whichever
is greater. Any tube which produces an indication equal
to or greater than 100% of the indication from the
calibration standard shall be rejected.
30.1.12 The tube shall be free from repair welds,
welded joints, laps, laminations, seams, visible cracks,
tears, grooves, slivers, pits, and other imperfections
detrimental to the tube as determined by visual and
ultrasonic examination, or alternate tests, as specified.
30.1.13 Tube shall be uniform in quality and
condition and have a finish conforming to the best
practice for standard quality tubing. Surface imperfec-
tions such as handling marks, straightening marks, light
mandrel and die marks, shallow pits, and scale pattern
will not be considered injurious if the imperfections
are removable within the tolerances specified for wall
thickness or 0.005 in., whichever is greater. The bottom
of imperfections shall be visible and the profile shall
be rounded and faired-in.
30.1.14 No weld repair by the manufacturer is
permitted.
30.1.15 Preservation shall be level A or commer-
cial, and packing shall be level A, B, or commercial,
as specified. Level A preservation and level A or B
packing shall be in accordance with MIL-STD-163
and commercial preservation and packing shall be in
accordance with Practices A 700 or Practice D 3951.
 PART A — FERROUS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS SA-450 /SA-450M

31. Keywords
31.1 alloy steel tube; austenitic stainless steel; carbon
steel tube; general delivery; stainless steel tube; steel
tube

TABLE 1 TABLE 3
PERMISSIBLE VARIATIONS IN WEIGHT PER FOOTA PERMISSIBLE VARIATIONS IN OUTSIDE DIAMETERA
Permissible Permissible Variations, in.
Variation in Weight [mm]
per Foot, % Outside Diameter,
in. [mm] Over Under
Method of Manufacture Over Under
Hot-Finished Seamless Tubes
Seamless, hot-finished 16 0 1 1
Seamless, cold-finished: 4 [101.6] and under ⁄64 [0.4] ⁄32 [0.8]
11⁄2 in. [38.1 mm] and under OD 12 0 Over 4 to 71⁄2 [101.6 to 190.5], incl 1
⁄64 [0.4] 3
⁄64 [1.2]
Over 11⁄2 in. [38.1 mm] OD 13 0 Over 71⁄2 to 9 [190.5 to 228.6], incl 1
⁄64 [0.4] 1
⁄16 [1.6]
Welded 10 0 Welded Tubes and Cold-Finished Seamless Tubes
A
These permissible variations in weight apply to lots of 50 tubes Under 1 [25.4] 0.004 [0.1] 0.004 [0.1]
or more in sizes 4 in. [101.6 mm] and under in outside diameter, 1 to 11⁄2 [25.4 to 38.1], incl 0.006 [0.15] 0.006 [0.15]
and to lots of 20 tubes or more in sizes over 4 in. [101.6 mm] in Over 11⁄2 to 2 [38.1 to 50.8], excl 0.008 [0.2] 0.008 [0.2]
outside diameter.
2 to 21⁄2 [50.8 to 63.5], excl 0.010 [0.25] 0.010 [0.25]
21⁄2 to 3 [63.5 to 76.2], excl 0.012 [0.3] 0.012 [0.3]
3 to 4 [76.2 to 101.6], incl 0.015 [0.38] 0.015 [0.38]
Over 4 to 71⁄2 [101.6 to 190.5], incl 0.015 [0.38] 0.025 [0.64]
Over 71⁄2 to 9 [190.5 to 228.6], incl 0.015 [0.38] 0.045 [1.14]
A
Except as provided in 8.2 and 8.3, these permissible variations
TABLE 2 include out-of-roundness. These permissible variations in outside di-
PERMISSIBLE VARIATIONS IN WALL THICKNESSA ameter apply to hot-finished seamless, welded and cold-finished seam-
less tubes before other fabricating operations such as upsetting, swag-
Wall Thickness, %
ing, expanding, bending, or polishing.
Over 0.095 Over 0.150
Outside to 0.150 to 0.180
Diameter, 0.095 [2.4] [2.4 to [3.8 to Over 0.180,
in. [mm] and Under 3.8], incl 4.6], incl [4.6]

Over Under Over Under Over Under Over Under

Seamless, Hot-Finished Tubes
4 [101.6] and 40 0 35 0 33 0 28 0 TABLE 4
under PERMISSIBLE VARIATIONS IN LENGTHA
Over 4 [101.6] . . . ... 35 0 33 0 28 0
Cut Length,
Seamless, Cold-Finished Tubes Outside
in. [mm]
Method of Diameter,
Over Under Manufacture in. [mm] Over Under
11⁄2 [38.1] and 20 0 Seamless, hot-finished All sizes 3
⁄16 [5] 0 [0]
under Seamless, cold-finished Under 2 [50.8] 1
⁄8 [3] 0 [0]
Over 11⁄2 [38.1] 22 0 2 [50.8] and over 3
⁄16 [5] 0 [0]
1
Welded Tubes Welded Under 2 [50.8] ⁄8 [3] 0 [0]
3
2 [50.8] and over ⁄16 [5] 0 [0]
All sizes 18 0 A
These permissible variations in length apply to tubes before bend-
A
These permissible variations in wall thickness apply only to tubes, ing. They apply to cut lengths up to and including 24 ft [7.3 m]. For
except internal-upset tubes, as rolled or cold-finished, and before lengths over 24 ft [7.3 m], the above over-tolerances, of 1⁄8 in. [3 mm]
swaging, expanding, bending, polishing, or other fabricating opera- for each 10 ft [3 m] or fraction thereof over 24 ft or 1⁄2 in. [13 mm],
tions. whichever is lesser.

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 SA-450 /SA-450M 2001 SECTION II

TABLE 5 TABLE 7
FLARING TEST REQUIREMENTS HYDROSTATIC TEST PRESSURES
Minimum Expansion of Inside Outside Diameter of Tube, in. Hydrostatic Test
Diameter, % [mm] Pressure, psi [MPa]
Ratio of Inside Carbon, Carbon- Under 1 [25.4] 1000 [7]
Diameter to Outside Molybdenum, and Other Ferritic 1 to 11⁄2 [25.4 to 38.1], excl 1500 [10]
DiameterA Austenitic Steels Alloy Steels 11⁄2 to 2 [38.1 to 50.8], excl 2000 [14]
2 to 3 [50.8 to 76.2], excl 2500 [17]
0.9 21 15 3 to 5 [76.2 to 127], excl 3500 [24]
0.8 22 17 5 [127] and over 4500 [31]
0.7 25 19
0.6 30 23
0.5 39 28
0.4 51 38
0.3 68 50
A
In determining the ratio of inside diameter to specified outside
diameter, the inside diameter shall be defined as the actual mean
inside diameter of the material tested.

TABLE 8
STRAIGHTNESS TOLERANCES
Specified Maximum
wall Maximum curvature in
Specified thickness curvature in total length
OD (in.) (in.) any 3 ft (in.) (in.)
Up to 5.0, Over 3% OD 0.030 0.010 ×
incl. to 0.5, length, ft
TABLE 6 incl.
FLANGE REQUIREMENTS Over 5.0 to Over 4% OD 0.045 0.015 ×
8.0, incl. to 0.75, length, ft
Outside Diameter of Tube, in. [mm] Width of Flange
incl.
To 21⁄2 [63.5], incl 15% of OD Over 8.0 to Over 4% OD 0.060 0.020 ×
Over 21⁄2 to 33⁄4 [63.5 to 95.2], incl 121⁄2% of OD 12.75, to 1.0, length, ft
Over 33⁄4 to 8 [95.2 to 203.2], incl 10% of OD incl. incl.

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